INNSIDE STORY

A whole lot of holiday fun to be had in the Garden State

Home is a nice place to be especially when it's cold outside. But as they say, home is where the heart is -- and New Jersey has plenty of places to make you feel at home, or better!

Holiday spirit comes to life with a stage adaptation of the TV classic "It's a Wonderful Life" at Cape May Stage now through December 23rd. Also through the 23rd, local school choirs perform holiday songs at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City every weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Delight in the lights at the Festival of Trees at Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton through January 7th. The whole family will also love the Holiday Festival of Lights at Camden Children's Garden every Friday and Saturday evening through December 31st. The Commerce Carousel, Spring Butterfly Ride and Arrow River Train will also be running.

Historic house and holiday tours, live Nativity, train show and doll house display are happening in historic Ocean Grove on December 9th & 10th. Homes with history in Haddonfield also open their doors on December 14th. Enjoy caroling and a candlelight walk through downtown Freehold on December 15th, followed by hot cider served on the Plaza.

So get out there and enjoy the winter wonders! Then snuggle up in one of our member inns to enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and the warm welcome of a crackling fire.

Innside Specials

Here's where to find the best holiday deals and getaways:

"Christmas Inn Tours: Stay over December 8th & 9th and receive free tickets to private showing of inns (Beacon House, Sea Girt)

"Christmas Tour Weekends": Stay two nights at any one of Sea Girt's and Spring Lake's festive inns and get free Christmas Inn Tour tickets (Historic Inns of Spring Lake)

"Fifties New Year's Eve Party": Food, drink and noisemakers, inn-style (Summer Nites, N. Wildwood)

"Ho Ho Christmas Fun Package!": Enjoy holiday shopping and dining and a warm, cozy stay (Chimney Hill Estate, Lambertville)

"It's a Wonderful Life": Stay over on December 8th & 9th and receive two free tickets to a private holiday inn tour (Evergreen Inn, Spring Lake)

"'Oh Christmas Tree' Holiday Special": Spend two weekend nights and get a free Christmas tree from Cherryville Farm (Main Street Manor, Flemington)

MEET THE INNKEEPERS

Sheila & Rick Brown
Summer Nites, N. Wildwood

"I told my husband he was insane," says Sheila Brown, recalling the purchase of the former rooming house that became a bed-n-breakfast. "I had a good job at the time and no intentions of running a b-n-b." Rick pushed the idea and she soon started to envision the fun they could have with a 50s themed establishment.

"We loved that era and I'm a huge Elvis fan," says Sheila, hence the Elvis Suite, the Marilyn Monroe room, the old pinball machines and afternoon root beer floats, milkshakes and soft pretzels for refreshment.

An Elvis impersonator comes for the Elvis Weekend Special in March and every morning Sheila dresses up in poodle skirts and saddle shoes, looking very much the part in the diner-style eating area. "We're all about fun," she says.

Fun Fact: Sheila's mother comes over to make a homemade breakfast for guests every morning.

EAT INN: Easy-to-make holiday eats and treats

This Cranberry Cheeseball from Amber Street Inn (Beach Haven) is delicious and delightful for holiday entertaining.

The holidays wouldn't be complete without some pecan pie, "squared" that is, in this Pecan Pie Squares recipe from Fairthorne Bed and Breakfast (Cape May).

NEW MEMBERS

A warm welcome to our new members!

The Gables
Sondra Beninati, Innkeeper
212 Centre Street
Beach Haven, NJ  08008
609-492-3553
www.gableslbi.com

Ocean View Inn
Bob Hilton, Innkeeper
22 Ocean Pathway
Ocean Grove, NJ  07758
632-988-9989
www.www.theoceanviewinn.com

The Founders Inn
Tracie & John Sperratore, Innkeepers
124 State Street
Glassboro, NJ  08028
856-881-1110
www.thefoundersinn.com